Staff

To contact a member of our staff, please call us at415-920-5040, or you may send an email. Email addresses are made up of the first letter of the staff member's first name, followed by their last name, and @supportforfamilies.org. Example: Jane Smith = jsmith@supportforfamilies.org.

Board

Diego Valderrama, SFCD Board President, joined the Board in 2012. He is an economist and has lived in San Francisco since 2003. He is the parent of a funny, sweet and happy little boy who also happens to have some disabilities. The cause of the disabilities are as of yet undiagnosed, and sometimes this lack of a “label” has made it harder to receive necessary services. Diego’s family has benefited tremendously from Support for Families which has become a second home to them. They have attended support groups, resource fairs, and multiple social events. Diego became a Parent Mentors in 2011 and has spoken to outside groups about the work that the organization does. Diego believes that children with disabilities should be fully integrated into our society and recognized for their abilities. He hopes that one day all schools, public and private, shall teach all children together regardless of their varying abilities.

Laura Lanzone, SFCD Vice President, is a full time Realtor at McGuire Real Estate and has two disabled step children (one has Cerebral Palsy and the other is severely Autistic) that she has been raising for the last twelve years. She is extremely involved in her community and is a member not only of the Board of Directors of Support for Families, but she also serves on the Board of the Marina Community Association. Laura came to Support for Families when she first married her husband, who was a widower, and needed guidance and resources for the children. She is forever grateful for the help they provided and is thrilled to be able to give back to such a worthy organization.

Kathy Bello Shepherd,SFCD Board Secretary, is a credentialed special education teacher in private practice with a licensed psychologist, provides collaborative psychoeducational evaluations in San Francisco. Prior to starting her practice, she taught special education in public schools and witnessed first hand the need for the valuable support and resources provided by Support for Families. She is honored to be able to give back to the community by volunteering for such an important organization. Kathy also volunteers with the Bay Area Association of Disabled sailors (BAADS). She and her husband, Bart, live in San Francisco with their two daughters one of whom has a diagnosed learning disability.

Jake Block, Treasurer, is a Director at Deutsche Bank Wealth Management in San Francisco helping families and institutions. He has finally reached the point where he has the courage and capacity to give back to his community and is a member not only of the Board of Directors of Support for Families, but he also serves on the Board of the Lafayette (CA) Community Association. His interest in SFF was sparked by his young daughters friendship with a classmate with special needs. It reminded Jake that as someone who overcame his own childhood disability with the support of his family and community it was time to provide the same support he once so desperately needed. He lives in Lafayette with his wife, Bethany, and two children, Estelle and Isaac.

Elizabeth Brogna is the mother of two amazing boys, one who has intellectual and physical disabilities, and one who is navigating life as the sibling of a person with disabilities. Elizabeth and her husband learned about Support for Families in 2005, shortly after their older son was born, and they have relied on the organization’s services ever since. Through Support for Families Elizabeth has participated in support groups, attended seminars and workshops, used the services and expertise of the Assistive Technology Lab, had staff from Support for Families attend IEP meetings with her, participated in the parent mentor program, and had countless questions answered. She has developed a particular interest in ensuring that children who have intellectual disabilities and are deaf/hard of hearing are getting their complex communication and learning needs met within their school environments. Before having children, Elizabeth worked in the Environmental Affairs Department at Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Eileen Davidoff Boussina is an attorney who has practiced law in the areas of entertainment litigation, First Amendment law, complex environmental litigation and public entity defense. In 2006, she and her husband, Nersi, had their son, Michael. She joined SFCD as a way to learn how to navigate the world of disability and to find resources that were available to her special needs child and her family. Initially she joined the Tuesday Night Parent Group for parent-to-parent support, and then attended invaluable informational conferences and workshops. She participated in an intensive learning series about Special Education Law and went on to become a Parent Mentor. On occasion, she has spoken on parent panels to doctors and nurses, and has advocated on behalf of children with special health care needs in front of the State Legislature. In early 2010, she joined the Board of Directors of SFCD and has served on the Fundraising Committee. SFCD is an organization near and dear to her heart. Her personal interests include traveling, cooking, reading, photography and, most of all, being in the company of her beloved family and friends.

Nicholas Fram

Laurel Kloomok is recently retired and was the Executive Director of First 5 San Francisco for the past ten years. She holds a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Special Education as well as certificates in Family Therapy and Group Facilitation Skills. Laurel spent her early career as an early childhood special education preschool teacher and as a program director. She has been a supporter of Support for Families for the past 30 years as a colleague, partner and as a funder. Laurel raised her two children in San Francisco and currently resides there with her husband.

Ada Li is a Senior Consultant in Deloitte & Touche LLP's Life Sciences practice. She joined the board in 2017 and is excited to contribute her energy and enthusiasm in support of this organization's goals and objectives. Community service has always been a big part of her life and she also currently mentors underprivileged high school students aspiring to go to college. In her free time, Ada enjoys running, reading a good book, and spending time with family and friends.